£1.7m funding for Coventry's unis to support postgraduate students

Students looking to progress into postgraduate study are being invited by Coventry University and the University of Warwick to apply for a scholarship to help fund their masters course.

The two universities have been granted a combined sum of £1,685,000 from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to help encourage students from under-represented groups to study a masters degree after graduating.

Over 300 students are set to benefit from the Postgraduate Scholarship Support Scheme, with 204 awards available at Coventry University and 133 being offered by the University of Warwick.

Each scholarship is worth a total of £10,000, and the UK-wide scheme is designed to support students from a range of under-represented groups including mature students, those who come from more deprived areas of the country, those who are registered disabled and people who care for an ill or disabled family member. Students who received a maintenance grant during their undergraduate study will also be eligible for the scholarship support scheme.

The two universities are accepting applications now, with Coventry University encouraging prospective students to get in touch before the deadline on March 31st by contacting fundingsupport@coventry.ac.uk.

Professor Denise Skinner, executive dean at Coventry University, said:

Encouraging students to take up postgraduate study is crucial to expanding the skills base not only in our region but also throughout the UK. Masters degrees offer a whole new level and depth of study for students looking to challenge themselves and enhance their qualifications, and we're delighted to be providing scholarships which we hope will open doors for people who might otherwise have felt unable to study a postgraduate course.

Coventry University and the University of Warwick were amongst the highest achieving universities in the UK in the recent Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2015, with Coventry University being named Modern University of the Year and Warwick securing the University of the Year accolade.